The BLM has announced some public RAMP meetings (see attached news release). This is the beginning of the process to re-write the RAMP that was invalidated by the lawsuit. It will be very important for our community to attend these meetings to help the BLM set the "scope" of the RAMP process. I'm sure there will be more info, but since these dates are in the near future, let's get those calendars marked!



Click to view attachment

Thanks, is there a place to send comments, concerns,and suggestions by mail or email?

Robbie...at this time, this is all I have. If you read the press release, this is where the BLM will decide what needs to be included in the RAMP document. It will be important to have written comments, as the oral comments at these meetings are only used to get the "flavor" of the room, and specifics raised are not necessarily included in the RAMP process. As more information becomes available, we'll get it out.

And while I didn't participate in the last process, I understand it is a huge job, and we're going to need a lot of help to do it right. This impacts everyone, and I hope we can all come together to make a positive impact on our beloved Mother G.

Dang this is coming up quick!!!

Public Meetings Scheduled for Revised Dunes Recreation Plan



The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), El Centro Field Office, has scheduled three public meetings concerning the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreations Area (ISDRA) revised Recreation Management Plan (RAMP) and new Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).



The meetings will be held on:

Tuesday, April 22nd (6pm to 8pm) Wednesday, April 23rd (6pm to 8pm)

Handlery Hotel Mountain Preserve Reception and Conference Center

950 Hotel Circle North 1431 E. Dunlap Avenue

San Diego, CA 92108 Phoenix, AZ 85020

(619) 398-8333 (602) 943 – 2656



Thursday, April 24th (6pm to 8pm)

Imperial Irrigation District William R. Condit Meeting Room

1285 Broadway

El Centro, CA 92243

(760) 339-9422



The RAMP, approved in 2005, was set aside by a Federal Court order in 2006 and remanded to BLM for further action, as was the previous U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) critical habitat designation. Steve Borchard, BLM Desert District manager, said BLM and FWS agreed it would be in the public interest to await completion of the revised final critical habitat rule before initiating revision of the RAMP.

On February 14, 2008, FWS published its final rule on critical habitat for the threatened Peirson’s milk-vetch. The BLM announced on March 18, through the Federal Register, a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a revised RAMP and new Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). These scheduled meetings will allow interested parties to identify issues that should be addressed in the new EIS and revised RAMP.

“We anticipate an accelerated schedule for preparing the EIS and the revised RAMP for public review, given the tremendous amount of data and public input on the earlier documents,” Borchard said. “BLM and the FWS will continue to closely coordinate on development of alternatives for the revised RAMP as we have in the past. We will be seeking the public’s input as well as we embark on this planning process.”

For further information concerning the BLM’s Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, visit the Imperial Sand Dunes website at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/re...ohvs/isdra.html. For further information or to review the FWS’ revised final critical habitat rule, contact the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office at 760-431-9440 or download the rule at http://www.regulations.gov/. Comments should be sent to Erin R. Dreyfuss, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, El Centro Field Office, California Desert District, Bureau of Land Management, 1661 South 4th Street, El Centro, CA 92243.

Many people spent many days on the last ramp.....scary to think we have to do it again, and even then it can be thrown out.

alxcook..I hear you. I understand this will be a HUGE project, and the court could just as easily throw out all of it just like last time. And don't think the eco's don't know this, and look to this as a strategy. They hope we won't be as strong this time as last time. I sincerely hope that we will prove them wrong..we have a fantastic community right here at gd.com, not to mention the rest of the sand world. Tough as it is, we need to suck it up, and do it all over again...

Quote of year right there.

Awesome turnout last night at the San Diego scoping meeting!






..pretty frickin dismal. I'm hoping that people will at least submit written comments.

working on a letter right now, in fact

But I would really like to see the answers to the questions that were asked at the jaggedX meeting!

Sad.

Tuesday, April 22nd (6pm to 8pm)
Wednesday, April 23rd (6pm to 8pm)

Handlery Hotel Mountain Preserve Reception and Conference Center

950 Hotel Circle North 1431 E. Dunlap Avenue

San Diego, CA 92108 Phoenix, AZ 85020

(619) 398-8333 (602) 943 – 2656


Thursday, April 24th (6pm to 8pm)

Imperial Irrigation District William R. Condit Meeting Room

1285 Broadway

El Centro, CA 92243

(760) 339-9422

Is anyone going to tonights or tomorrows meetings?

are you really suprised??? how many people went to the clean up????

how many people use this board every day, but yet cant seem to contribuite a thing to it?? or the place they all say the love???

pretty eff*in dismal is right....

Well, did anyone make it to the meeting in Phoenix last night?

I've got my letter for the comment period ready to go in the mail today.
I've addressed:
The closures,
The reservation system,
The need to extend Gecko Road
The Competition Hill Curfew
And
since their previous document wanted to create a "continous geographical area for habitat and species..."
I informed them that such an area already exists, North of Highway 78.

Lots of people getting hit hard in SoCal right now, bigger problems than what's happening at Glamis. Ease up a bit.

The BLM has scheduled the following public meetings

You Must Attend To Learn What Is PROPOSED.
In the Preferred Plan we get:

INCREASED PERMANENT CLOSURES

DECREASED CAMPING ACREAGE

POTENTIAL RESTRICTED CAMP AREA USE

Tuesday, April 13th – San Diego, CA
Handlery Hotel
950 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA 92108

Wednesday, April 14th – El Centro, CA
Imperial Irrigation District William R. Condit Meeting Room
1285 Broadway
El Centro, CA 92243

Thursday, April 15th – Phoenix, AZ
Mountain Preserve Reception and Conference Center
1431 E. Dunlap Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85020

All meetings will run from 6:00pm – 9:00pm
BLM will make a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation about the plan. BLM will then be available to take your questions.
You will be able to make official comments at the meetings.

These will be the ONLY meetings offered by the BLM.

This needs it's own topic imo so more people will see it.

What is the preferred plan? I started reading through the document and looked at the proposals but didn't know that one was preferred over the others.

I figure I will catch all of these threads...The Phoenix meeting is tonight.

Thursday, April 15th – Phoenix, AZ
Mountain Preserve Reception and Conference Center
1431 E. Dunlap Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85020